Container



Jan. 26, 1960 w. G. MIDNIGHT CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1948 Jan. 26, 1960 w. s. MIDNIGHT 2,922,560

CONTAINER Original Filed Dec. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wf/b ur a". mun/ M Claims.. (Cl. 229-33) This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial Number 65,165, filed December 14, 1948, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to containers made of foldable material such as boxboard and the like anduseful for storing and shipping heavy articles, particularly welding electrodes.

economy in material and efficiency in production.

As will be appreciated, containers for heavy items" like electrodes encounter severe storing and: shipping:

A primary object of the invention! is to provide a container of greater strengtlitthan hasheretofore been normally available and at increased:

treatment. They are usually stacked in layers on pallets with the result that the lower layers must support the weight of all above them, and this imposesa strain par--- ticularly on the vertical sections or parts of the lower containers, i.e. the sides, ends, and corners. Container ruptures due to stacking are common, the rupture occurring very frequently in a vertical section, and usually at the corners and ends.

According to the invention, a container is provided having enhanced strength at the above mentioned, more or less critical locations. Four or more thicknesses of material are placed in the ends and two or more thicknesses in the corners and at the sides. These improvements have been obtained by using a single, die-cut, container blank incorporating an integral cover, and have been attended by savings incontainer material, as by dispensing with a separate cover and with the usual separate liner for strengthening the sides and ends; and. by savings in handling costs because there is only-one piece of material requiring attention.

The invention maybe better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which certain illustrative embodiments are shown, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view o-fthe one-piece blank;

Fig. 2 is a broken-off, perspective view of the partially folded blank;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the completed container, with a portion thereof partially broken away;

Fig. 4 is a broken-off, planview of a modified blank;

Fig. 5 is a broken-off, plan view ofanother modified blank;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modified blank;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of still another'modified blank;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom of a container formed from the blank of Fig. 7, looking into the container.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the invention comprises" a unitary or one-piece blank of foldable materialsuch as boxboard provided with a bottom 10 having a pair of side panels 11, 12 and a pair of end panels 13, 14.-

It may be noted here that the dotted lines in- Fig. 1

represent fold lines while the full lines represent cuts.

The end panels have liners 15, 16 connected to the outer edges 17, 18, respectively, thereof, each of which liners is foldable down into the container. (By outer" or inner edge, as used herein, is meant the edge as it is positioned in the assembled container. Thus, an outer edge is one extending upwardly or away from the bottom of the container, and aninner edge is one extending downwardly or towards the bottom.) Each end panel liner is provided with a pair of end flaps 19, 20 and 21, 22, respectively. During the step of folding a liner down into the container, the end flaps-thereof are folded at right angles to the liner and in a position disposed outwardly of the container. As shown in Fig. 2, and partially in Fig. 3, the flaps 19, 20 of liner 15 are arranged withinthe'container opposite'the flaps 21, 22, respectively, of liner 16 to form pairs of such flaps alined on opposite sides of the container. Thus, 19 and 21 comprise one' pair of alined flaps, and 20 and 22 comprise the other pair. The flaps 19 and 21, together with the side panel ll, define one side wall of the container while the flaps 20 and 22, together with the side panel 12, define the opposite side wall. Accordingly, each side wall has a thickness'of two plies of the container blank.

The side panels 11,12 each havea pair of end flaps 23, 24- and 25, 26 which at each end of the container are disposed between an'end panel and the liner connected thereto.- In the container as illustrated in Fig. 2, flaps 23 and 25 are disposed between panel 13 and liner 15, such parts defining three plies of an end wall having a thickness of four plies of the blank. By the same token, flaps 24'and 26 are shown as being disposable between end panel 14 and liner 16, ultimatelydefining three plies of the opposite end wall which is also four plies'iu thickness.

Side panel 12' isprovided with a closure flap 27' eX- tending from its outer edge 28 which is'foldable along said edge inwardly of theicontainer to a. position substantially parallel to'bottom 10, as will be apparent in Figs. 2 and 3. In this-position, the closure flap 27 inter fits between'the container'end walls and-lies substantially flush with the. top edges thereof, being adapted'to preclude spillage ofthe contents of the container after closure of the same: Side panel 11 has a cover hing edly connected to its outer edge 30 and whichis fold able down over theclosure flap 27 to at least partially overlie or overlap the same. Cover 29 is provided'with a pair of end flaps 31, 32.for disposition in this instance over theouter surfaces of the end panels 13, 14;note

Figs. 2 and 3. The cover end flaps131, 32 are substantially coextensive in area-with the end panels of the container and, upon closure of the container, each consti tutes the fourth ply of its corresponding end Wall.

Four thicknesses or plies of material at each end are thus provided for the'container, which, 1o'oking at the lower end of Fig; 1' and reading fromthe inside of the container to the outside, maybe'seen' to comprise the end panel liner 15, flapsr23'and 25, end panel 13:,and cover flap 31. The-container hascontinuous double thicknesses or plies interconnecting the opposed side walls and-end walls of the container ateach of the-four Refer, for example, to the lower right hand corner of. Figul, which may be seen corners defined thereby.

to comprise the fold line 33 between panel 1.2 and flap 25,

and the fold line 34 between liner 15 and flap 20. The double thicknesses of plies at the sidesof the container comprise, at the right hand side of'Fig. 1, the panel 12 and the pair of flaps 20-and 22..

The container may be sealed. in any suitable manner,

asby gluing, taping, stapling, Wiring, etc. Preferably it is glued, and this may be done --atanysuitablestage in the formation of the container and either priorto. or-

after filling. The glue or adhesive may be applied, for

example, to the upper or outer surface of closure flapi 27 andztothe outer surfaces of .end.panels.--13. and 14, and/or to the marginal edge portion 35- (Fig; 2) of the inner surface of cover 29 and to the inner surfaces the cutting step to some extent and results in a container.

in which the flaps 19a and 21a overlap each other. The opposite pair of flaps may be the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or may also be cut to overlap each other. Alternatively, they may have the design now to be described in connection with the modification of Fig. 5.

In the latter figure the flaps 20b and 22b, which corrc spend to the flaps 20 and '22 of Figs. 1 to 3, have been shortened until their free ends are flush with the sides 40 and 41 '15 the flaps 25b and 26b. As in the lastmodification, this design also simplifies the blank cutting step, and in the resulting container the ends of the flaps 20b and 22b are spaced from each other.

ther modifications of the blank are possible, based on the foregoing description. For example, both pairs of end panel liner flaps may have shortened flaps as shown in Fig. 5, or one pair only may have shortened flaps while the other pair may have flaps such as are shown in Figs. 1-3.

Also, depending on the height, length, and width of the container, the flaps 23, 24, 25, and 26 may each be made to extend across the entire width of the container to givefive thicknesses of material at the ends instead of four;

The blank shown in Fig. 6 is somewhat similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the end panel liner flaps 19c and 21c have been lengthened so that they are coextensive with the edge 50 of the side flap 51, and the flaps 20c and 220 have been shortened to make them flush with the side panel 120 and the'side panel end fiaps 25c and 26c. Also, as may have been noted, the cover 290 is provided with the side liner 50, while the side panel 120 is without a side panel liner. The end panel liner flaps 19c and 216 overlap each other and in this particular case each extends to the opposite end of the container, i.e. each is of substantially the same length as the length of the container, or rather, the length of bottom 10c. This design provides three thicknesses of material on the left hand side of bottom 10c, namely, the side panel 11c and the end panel liner flaps 19c and 210. Two

thicknesses of material are provided on the right hand side of the container, namely, side panel 120 and side liner 51, the latter being foldable over, and scalable to, the panel 12c. It will be noted that this blank involves no additional material over that shown in Fig. 1.

The blank of Fig. 7 is like that of Fig. 1 except that the inner edges 60 and 61 of the end panel liners 15d and 16d are provided with V-shaped wings 62 and 63, respectively. Also, the inner edges 64, 65, 66, and 67 of the end panel liner flaps 19d, 20d, 21d, and 22d are provided with wings 68, 69, 70, and 71, respectively. Wings 68 to 71 have a diagonally out side, as shown. All of the wings are foldable towards the bottom 1041 so that they assume a fiat position in the box. In Fig. 8 is shown the final disposition of these wings, from which it may be seen that the size and shape of each is complementary to those adjacent it and together they completely cover the bottom of the container. The wings provide double thicknesses for each fold line defining the bottom of the container, namely, the fold lines 72, 73, 74, and 75. In effect, they add an extra bottom to the container.

In the light of the foregoing description, the following is claimed:

1. A container formed from a single blank of foldable material comprising a bottom having a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, said side panels and said end panels being integrally connected to said bottom along intact fold lines and ,.at every point along said fold lines; each said end pariel having a liner connected to the outer edge thereof and foldable down into the container, each end panel liner having an end flap at each end and a wing at the outer edge thereof, and each end panel liner flap having a Wing at the outer side thereof, each said wing having a diagonally out side; said side panels each having a pair of end flaps which at each end of the container are disposed between an end panel and the liner connected thereto; the end panel liner flaps of one of said liners being arranged within the container opposite the end panel liner flaps of the other of said liners to form pairs of such flaps alined on opposite sides of the container, the length of each end panel liner flap being one-half the length of said bottom, the wing of each end panel liner and of each end'panel liner flap all being foldable toward the bottom of the container to lie in a flat position thereon, the wings associated with each end ofthe container interfitting one another, the interfitting wings of one end of the container as a group, being alined with the interfitting wings of the other end; one of said side panels having a linerextending from its outer edge and foldable inwardly'of the container to a position substantially parallel to said bottom, the other of said side panels having a cover hingedly connected to its upper edge and foldable down over the side panel liner to at least partially overlap the same, said cover having a pair of end flaps for disposition over 'the outer surfaces of said end panels, thereby providing the container with four thicknesses of material at each end; said container also having double thicknesses of material at each corner, at the four fold lines surrounding the bottom, and on the bottom thereof.

2. A heavy-duty covered container formed from a single blank of foldable material such as boxboard and comprising a bottom having a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, said side panels and said end panels being integrally connected to said bottom along intact fold lines and at every point along said fold lines, each said end panel having a liner connected to the outer edge thereof and foldable down into the container, each end panel liner having an end flap at each end and a wing at the edge thereof remote from said end panel outer edge, and each end panel liner flap having a wing at the edge thereof remote from its associated end panel outer edge, said side panels each having a pair of end flaps which at each end of the container are disposed between an end panel and the liner connected thereto, the end panel liner flaps of one of said liners being arranged within the container opposite the end panel liner flaps of the other of said liners to form pairs of such flaps alined on opposite sides of the container, the wing of each end panel liner and of each end panel liner flap all being foldable toward the bottom of the container to lie in a flat position and common plane thereon, one of said side panels having a closure flap extending from its outer edge and foldable inwardly of the container to a position substantially parallel to said bottom, the other of said side panels having an unbroken cover hingedly connected to its outer edge and foldable down over said closure flap to at least partially overlap the same, said cover having a pair of end flaps for disposition in aligned abutting relation with respective ones of said end panels, each said end flap being a unitary panel substantially coextensive in area with one of said end panels, thereby providing the container with four thicknesses of material at each end, said container also having double continuous thicknesses of material at each corner, at the four fold line's surrounding the bottom, and at least on the marginal edge portions of the bottom.

3. A heavy-duty covered container formed from a single blank of foldable material such as boxboard and comprising a bottom having a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels integral therewith, each said end panel A having a liner connected to the outer edge thereof and foldable down into the container, each end panel liner having an end flap at each end thereof and a wing at the inner edge thereof, and each end panel liner flap having a wing also at the inner edge thereof, said side panels each having a pair of end flaps which at each end of the container are disposed between an end panel and the liner connected thereto, the end panel liner flaps of one of said liners being arranged within the container opposite the end panel liner flaps of the other of said liners to form pairs of such flaps alined on opposite sides of the container, and the wings of said end panel liners and of said end panel liner flaps all being foldable to lie flatly and in a common plane on the bottom of said container, the wings associated with each end of the container interfitting one another, the interfitting wings of one end of the container, as a group, being aligned with the interfitting wings of the other end, one of said side panels having a cover hingedly connected to its outer edge, said cover having a pair of end flaps for disposition in alined abutting relation with respective ones of said end panels, each said end flap being a unitary panel substantially coextensive in area with one of said end panels.

4. A generally rectangular single piece blank die cut and scored from boxboard or the like into nineteen generally rectangular panel areas and foldable into a heavy duty covered shipping container having four thicknesses of material at each end and two thicknesses of material at each corner, said blank having a pair of spaced apart transverse score lines running parallel with the major transverse dimension of said blank; said blank also having a series of spaced apart score lines running parallel with the major longitudinal dimension of said blank; said longitudinal and transverse score lines dividing the central and major area of said blank into five unbroken rectangular panels each having a longitudinal dimension corresponding to the spacing between said transverse score lines, said five rectangular panels comprising, respectively and consecutively, a single unbroken cover panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, and a single unbroken closure flap having a longitudinal dimension not exceeding that of said bottom panel; a pair of rectangular end panels each connected to said bottom panel along a corresponding one of said transverse score lines, each said end panel having a major dimension not exceeding the transverse dimension of said bottom panel and another major dimension corresponding substantially to the transverse dimension of said side panels; a rectangular end panel liner connected to each said end panel at the edge thereof remote from said bottom panel and corresponding substantially in size to said end panel; each said end panel liner having an unbroken rectangular end panel liner flap at each end thereof; each said end panel liner flap having one major dimension not exceeding the transverse dimension of said side panels and another major dimension not exceeding the combined transverse dimensions of said first side panel and said cover; said side panels each having a pair of end flaps which at each end of the container are disposable between an end panel and a liner connected thereto; and a pair of rectangular area with one of said end panels.

5. A heavy duty stackable covered shipping container for rods, bars and the like, said container being formed from a single piece blank of foldable material such as boxboard die cut and scored into nineteen generally rectangular panel areas and comprising, in combination, a rectangular bottom having a pair of opposed rectangular side panels and a pair of opposed rectangular end panels, said side panels and said end panels being integrally connected to said bottom along intact fold lines and at every point along said fold lines, each said end panel having a rectangular liner connected to the outer edge thereof, each said end panel liner having an end flap at each end thereof With a length not exceeding half the length of said container, each said liner and its end flaps having a common outer edge and being foldable down into the container with said common edge substantially abutting said bottom, saidside panels each having a pair of end flaps which at each end of the container are disposed between an end panel and the liner connected thereto to form an end Wall, the end panel liner flaps of one of said liners being arranged within the container opposite the end panel liner flaps of the other of said liners to form pairs of such flaps alined on opposite sides of the container and all having their entire area in face-to-face abutting relation with said rectangular side panels, an unbroken rectangular sealing flap having a longitudinal dimension not exceeding the longitudinal distance between said opposed end panel liner, said sealing flap being integrally connected to the outer edge of one of said side panels and foldable inwardly of the container to a position substantially parallel to said bottom and so as to extend transversely of the container toward the other side panel in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, a generally rectangular unbroken cover having a transverse dimension not exceeding that of said rectangular bottom panel, said cover being unitarily connected to the outer edge of the other of said side panels and foldable down into overlapping abutting relation with said sealing flap, said cover having a pair of generally rectangular unbroken end flaps for disposition in alined abutting relation with respective ones of said end walls, said cover end flaps each being a unitary panel of substantially the same size as said end panels, thereby providing the container with four thicknesses of material at each end, said container also having double thicknesses of material at each corner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,794 Brown May 25, 1915 1,530,643 Blandford Mar. 24, 1925 1,667,975 Labombarde May 1, 1928 2,181,483 Greve Nov. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,663 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1936 

